Generally, there are eight vowel sounds in modern Malay language. The sounds are divided into three groups. These groups are depending on the sound production of each vowel.

Front vowels : [i], [e], [ε], [a]

Central vowels : [ə]

Back vowels : [o], [u], [כ]

Production of vowel sounds

Sound production of each vowel is different and depends mainly by the shape of the mouth. The shapes of the lip can be rounded, or flat and the location of the tongue can be either in the front, central or the back of the mouth.

The closure of nasal cavity avoids the air from exiting the nostrils that may produce hypernasality.

The figure below shows the mouth structure that involves in the production of vowel sounds.

Figure of the moth structure
Source www.bukharis.net

Figure of flat and rounded lips
Source: assignment.oum.edu.my

Details giving below describe the differences of how different vowel sounds are produced.

Vowel

Type

How to produce vowel

Example

[i]

Front close vowel

Flat lips

Frontal tongue lifted as high as possible toward the hard palate but not touching it.

Ikan
Bila
Tali

[e]

Front partially close vowel

Flat lips

Frontal tongue lifted as high as possible towards the gum

Enak
Teleng
Tauge

[ε]

Front partially open vowel

Flat lips

Frontal tongue lifted halfway towards the gum

Esa
Belek
Tauge

[a]

Front open vowel

Flat lips

Frontal lips downward as low as possible

Awan
Kadar
Siapa

[ə]

Central vowel

Flat shapes in between flat and rounded

Frontal tongue lifted upward toward the hard palate but not touching it

Emak
Penat
Sosialisme

[u]

Back close vowel

Rounded lips

Back of the tongue lifted as high as possible towards the soft palate but not touching it

Ubat
Bulat
Batu

[o]

Back partially close vowels

Rounded lips

Back of the tongue lifted as high as possible towards the soft palate but not touching it